Movie Review: Matilda

Movie Review: Matilda                                                                                                    5-3-18

 

Warning! This review contains spoilers for Matilda.

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Matilda is about a young girl named Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson). She is born with extraordinary intelligence, and instead of wanting to watch television like everybody else, Matilda prefers to read books. Her selfish and absent-minded parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman) sell cars for a living, but Harry, the father, sells poor-quality quality cars at unfair prices. After gluing his hat to Harry's head as a 'punishment', Matilda gets punished by being forced to watch TV. After an incident with the TV, Harry decides to enroll Matilda at a school, ruled by a very cruel principal named Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Farris). Her punishments range from eating a whole cake in one sitting to being trapped in a room filled with nails. Now, with the help of a very nice teacher named Jennifer Honey (Embeth Davidtz), along with Matilda's secret telepathy, Matilda has to think of a way to drive Ms. Trunchbull out of her own school.

Matilda is an underrated gem that deserves better with likable characters, top-notch acting, effects that rival the live-action Disney movies of its time, and a script that matches the wit of Roald Dahl. Matilda Wormwood is a perfect role model that young girls can look up to.

Matilda learned how to take care of herself when she was only two, is able to walk back and forth from the library, and never ever gets mad throughout the film.

Ms. Trunchbull is also a very threatening and scary villain. Much like Benny Krupp in the Captain Underpants books, Ms. Trunchbull hates children, so much into even attempting to killing them if they misbehave or show signs of enlightenment. Trunchbull is even responsible for killing Mrs. Honey's father so she could steal her house!

If I were to make one complaint, I would say that Matilda's parents and brother can be over-the-top rude and mean at times. Thankfully, though, they don't have that much screen time.

In conclusion, Matilda is a fantastic children's film that will hopefully be enjoyed for years to come.

Rating: Four and a half stars out of five.

PLUS four ribbons